Civilization 7 Players Hear Strange Noises in Age Transition Screen, 2K Responds

Civilization 7 players have reported hearing unexpected sounds—coughing, grunting, and even swordfighting—while browsing the game's Age Transition screen. Now, publisher 2K has officially acknowledged the issue.

A Reddit thread discussing the strange noises has gained traction, with players sharing recorded clips that reveal human-like sounds playing behind the game's orchestral score. Some initially suspected they had an open stream or Discord call running, only to realize the noises were coming from the game itself.

"I thought maybe I'd left a stream on or was somehow in a Discord call" one player noted. "But I double-checked, and no. You can really hear a person clearing their throat and coughing throughout the music. It's kind of hilarious if you ask me."

Other players have reported additional background noises, including snippets of character grunts and the clash of swords.

Rather than an accidental voiceover or an unintended audio layer, 2K has offered an explanation. According to a post on the official Civilization support site, the issue stems from audio from the Main Menu unintentionally playing over the Age Transition screen.

"This means you may hear short voice lines, shuffling around, and general idle noises while on the Age Transition menu" a 2K spokesperson confirmed.

In addition to this bizarre bug, Firaxis has addressed broader concerns about Civilization 7’s mixed reception. A recent blog post from the developer promised upcoming updates aimed at improving UI interactions, enhancing map readability, and adding key multiplayer features like Teams and hot seat mode.

As the developers work on refining the game, players will have to deal with the occasional cough and shuffle—at least for now.

Civilization 7 is the latest entry in the iconic turn-based strategy series by Firaxis Games, where players build and expand civilizations through history. Set to release on February 11, 2025, it introduces significant gameplay improvements. Recently, Firaxis acknowledged mixed player reviews, particularly concerning the user interface, and has committed to addressing these concerns in upcoming updates. The game now allows players to select leaders and civilizations independently, offering more diverse strategic options.